PEDOMORPHOSIS AND DIFFERENCES IN LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS OF 2 NEIGHBORINGCRESTED NEWT (TRITURUS-CARNIFEX) POPULATIONS

Two neighbouring crested newt populations (Ceklin and Lokanj) from Mon tenegro differ in several important life-history traits. Females from Ceklin laid significantly larger eggs. Larval size at hatching did not differ between Ceklin and Lokanj, but larvae from larger eggs survive d better under laboratory conditions. Newts from Lokanj had a higher o verall larval growth rate and a longer larval period. Consequently, th ey metamorphosed at larger size than Ceklin individuals. They also att ained sexual maturity at smaller size than newts from Ceklin. It is sh own that male newts with larval morphology may be sexually mature. Ind ividuals from Lokanj population had a more plastic life-history, inclu ding facultative paedomorphosis, than individuals from Ceklin populati on. Out of five ontogenetic stages, juveniles and adult males showed s ignificant interpopulation difference in size-shape trajectories. This might be the consequence of different ontogenetic pathways followed b y crested newts from these populations.